Chapter 14: The Last Kane Family Reunion
The Whitmore estate had been abandoned for eleven years.
Its windows were boarded up, its gardens had grown wild, and the stone staircase was stained by years of rain.
It was also where my childhood had ended.
And where Vincent intended to finish what he'd started.
Adrian stood beside the SUV, examining the photograph.
"He's using Thomas to draw us out.""
Elena shook her head.
"Your grandmother wouldn't help Vincent. She died before the fire.""
I looked at the woman in the photograph.
"Then who is she?""
Thomas answered quietly.
"Your grandmother's twin sister. Evelyn Whitmore.""
I stared at him.
"She has a sister?""
"She disappeared when your grandfather took control of the family estate. Nobody had seen her in years.""
Victoria folded her arms.
"Why would she help Vincent?""
Thomas looked toward the dark mansion.
"Because Evelyn believed your grandfather stole her inheritance.""
Adrian checked his weapon.
"Then Vincent found someone just as greedy as he is.""
I stepped forward.
"We're going.""
Adrian shook his head.
"No. You're staying with Marco.""
I stared at him.
"Adrian, I'm done being hidden.""
"Wren—"
"My name is Isabella.""
He stopped.
I touched the crescent mark behind my ear.
"I spent ten years hiding because people told me I wasn't allowed to exist. I'm not doing that anymore.""
Victoria moved beside me.
"Neither am I.""
Adrian looked between us.
Finally, he nodded.
"Then nobody leaves my sight.""
We entered the estate shortly before midnight.
The front doors were already open.
Inside, the chandelier still hung above the grand staircase, although several crystals were missing.
I recognized the marble floor.
The staircase.
The hallway.
A strange feeling washed over me.
I had been here before.
Not as a homeless woman.
As a little girl.
I remembered running down these stairs while someone laughed behind me.
"Slow down, Bella!""
I stopped.
Victoria touched my arm.
"Are you okay?""
"I remember this place.""
She nodded.
"Me too.""
Then a woman's voice came from the upper landing.
"How touching. The little princesses finally found their way home.""
A woman appeared.
She wore a black silk dress and carried a silver-handled cane.
Her hair was white, but her eyes were sharp.
Evelyn Whitmore.
She looked at me and smiled.
"Isabella. You've grown up.""
I stepped forward.
"Where is my father?""
"Safe.""
"Let me see him.""
Evelyn laughed.
"You have your mother's stubbornness.""
Adrian moved between us.
"Release Thomas and Elena.""
"Always giving orders, Adrian. Just like your biological father.""
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"Where's Vincent?""
A door opened behind Evelyn.
Vincent walked into the hall.
His suit was wrinkled, and there was blood on his collar.
But he was smiling.
"Hello, nephew.""
Adrian raised his weapon.
"Don't move.""
Vincent stopped.
"Still playing the hero?""
"Where are our parents?""
"Downstairs. With Margaret.""
I looked at him.
"Why did you do this?""
Vincent turned toward me.
"Because I wanted something your grandfather took from me.""
"Eight hundred million dollars?""
He laughed.
"Money is only useful when it gives you power.""
He approached the staircase.
"Your grandfather gave James Kane everything. The company, the respect, the family name. I was his son, and I was treated like a servant.""
Adrian stared at him.
"You had a family.""
"I had an opportunity.""
"You had two little girls who trusted you.""
Vincent's face hardened.
"They were assets.""
Victoria stepped forward.
"We were children.""
"And children grow up.""
Evelyn raised her cane.
"Enough. Give me the trust documents.""
I shook my head.
"They're not yours.""
Evelyn smiled.
"Everything in this house belongs to me.""
"Then why are you helping Vincent?""
Her expression changed.
"Because he promised to return what your grandfather stole.""
I looked at her.
"He promised you money.""
"He promised me the company.""
"And you believed him?""
She slapped the cane against the floor.
"Watch your tone, girl.""
I stepped closer.
"You helped him separate two babies. You helped him imprison our parents. And now you expect us to hand you an empire?""
Evelyn's smile disappeared.
Vincent pulled a small remote from his pocket.
"Enough talking.""
He pressed a button.
A screen descended from the ceiling.
It showed Thomas and Elena tied to chairs in a basement room.
Margaret stood behind them.
Her hands were shaking.
Vincent looked at me.
"One final decision, Isabella. Give me the original trust, or your father dies.""
I looked at Adrian.
He nodded almost imperceptibly.
Marco had already positioned his men around the building.
I reached into my coat.
But instead of the trust, I removed the tiny memory card.
Vincent's eyes widened.
"Give it to me.""
I held it up.
"You want this?""
"Now!""
I threw it toward the staircase.
Vincent rushed forward.
At that exact moment, Adrian tackled him.
The remote flew from Vincent's hand.
Victoria ran toward Evelyn.
Evelyn raised her cane, but Victoria caught her wrist.
"Not this time.""
The cane hit the floor.
Marco and his men entered from both sides.
Gunshots echoed through the hallway.
One of Vincent's men fired toward Adrian.
I screamed.
Adrian fell behind a marble pillar.
Marco returned fire.
Within seconds, the armed men were disarmed.
Vincent was dragged to his feet.
He looked at me with pure hatred.
"You should have stayed on the street.""
I stepped closer.
"I survived the street. I survived the fire. I survived you.""
His face twisted.
Then he laughed.
"You think this is over?""
Adrian approached him.
"It is.""
Vincent looked toward Victoria.
"Tell them.""
She frowned.
"Tell them what?""
He smiled.
"Tell them who actually started the fire.""
I turned toward Evelyn.
She was standing beside the staircase.
Her face had gone completely white.
Vincent continued.
"It wasn't me who locked the nursery door.""
The room fell silent.
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Then she whispered:
"I was only following your grandfather's instructions.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
She looked at me.
"Charles ordered me to lock the nursery. He believed the fire would destroy the evidence of the illegal adoption.""
Thomas appeared at the basement entrance, supported by Marco.
His face was pale.
"That's not true.""
Evelyn began crying.
"Your grandfather wanted one heir. He ordered the fire to be contained. But Vincent changed the plan.""
Vincent laughed.
"Don't put this on me alone, Evelyn. You took the money.""
I looked at Adrian.
The entire family had been lying.
Even the man who had supposedly tried to protect us.
Then Victoria stepped forward.
"There's one thing none of you understand.""
She pulled a small recorder from her pocket.
"I've been recording everything since we entered.""
Vincent stopped smiling.
Victoria looked at Marco.
"Send it to the authorities.""
Marco nodded.
The recorder contained Vincent's confession.
His admission about the fire.
His threats.
His explanation of the inheritance fraud.
Everything.
As officers placed Vincent in handcuffs, he looked at me one last time.
"You'll never be able to run Kane Holdings.""
I looked at my sister.
Then at Adrian.
"We're not interested in running your empire.""
Vincent's smile faded.
And for the first time, I saw fear in his eyes.
Because he finally understood that we weren't fighting for his money anymore.
We were fighting for the truth.
But as the officers escorted him outside, Thomas suddenly collapsed.
"FATHER!"" I screamed.
Adrian caught him before his head hit the floor.
Thomas's eyes fluttered.
He looked at us one final time.
Then he whispered:
"Don't let them destroy the company. Your grandfather left something inside it that can save thousands of families.""
May you like
His eyes closed.
And the ambulance sirens began approaching the estate.
